Wow...it's 2006 already

With nearly 1000 hits to our little radio memory page, I know that many of you check in from time to time looking for updates.

I guess when you are writing about the past, memories are all that you have to go on. I have shared with you what I remember about the station during my brief time there and I have heard comments back from many former WLBH AM & FM employees who have shared their memories as well. I am going to leave the sight as it is for now...and still welcome any additional stories that you may have. I have set up the comments a little differently to prevent the nazi spammers, but hope to stay in touch with all of you as the years go by.

Peace and have a wonderful 2006!

Paul Crutcher

Beautiful Music From Mattoon on Stereo 97

Welcome to the Central Illinois Radio Memories blog. It's been twenty years since I took my last walk out of the big barn two miles north of Mattoon, and with the recent news of the place falling apart, I thought it was time for us to recollect a bit.

My story begins just after my 17th birthday when I left the pharmaceutical/soda jerk business and headed into the exciting world of radio at the 50,000 watt giant WLBH FM in Mattoon, Illinois. It would begin a multi-year stretch of both sheer-boredom coupled with some of the most hilarious and exciting stories of my life. That is where you come in. Along the way, I hope we can all chip in a few memories from the glory days of WLBH AM & FM.

Here are a few triggers to get your mind spinning...

Editorial Commentary with Ray Livesay, President and General Manager of the Mattoon Broadcasting Company....

The Policy Book...

General Humorous stories dealing with homemade automation or the old man fixing stuff with a rubberband....

Jim's Hairpiece...or...the day he took off the rug (possibly the funniest moment I have ever had to endure without laughing to this day)

Interlude of Poetry...

The John Doremus Show...

Is the SCA still playing?

Just exactly what year was this production equipment manufactured?

Personalities and People I want to know about - (A behind the music of such for the WLBH Alumni) Where are they now and have they had to go through any therapy because of Jim's hairpiece....
JRL II
Ken Woodell
Mike Bradd
Larry Oathout (I know where you are, but still want to hear from you)
Berg
Pete George (I'm just guessing is no longer with us)
Jack Horsely (A very nice man and always kind in our brief time together)
Sky Drysdale (A St. Louis Broadcast Center Graduate, he was cool in my book)Jeff Owens (Jeff always described the FM as "Music for Dead People"
Bub
Darren Foley
Jerry Doll (More on Jerry at a later date. I owe him much gratitude)
Linda Kingery
Vickie Gard
Eric Finley
Brett (I can't remember your last name, but I accidentally got you fired)...It was an accident. He had pre-recorded the 5:05 news and messed up in his intro uttering the word F**K. I cued the tape up to 3, 2, 1, without any warning of the messed up intro. It played and he was fired and I am very sorry to this day. No hard feelings..

The guys that did all those Arthur games. How many times can you say Fatzbecker passes to Hershberger who pitches to Schrock.......

Any of those sales people that lasted less than a month who's desks I used to pilfer through looking for clues to why they would ever take that job.

Jim McLean (The greatest chief engineer story teller ever)

Every Lake Land radio student that found out what the "real world" was like...NOT NOT NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Smith (I know where you are too, but we did have a few good stories to share)

Anyone who ever had to host the trading post, or the Jazz on Record program of which I had the pleasure of doing both....

Anyone who ever had to engineer a game in FM, while recording at least three games simultaneously in any of the other studios/production rooms

Any female I might have possibly snuck into the old radio station and violated or corrupted in any way, shape or form.

*Anyone who had to read the weather to the "weather lady" who would relentlessly call always wanting the forecast read to her slowly and loudly. That woman owes me years of time back.....

That's just a few to get you started. If your era is a bit different than mine, do not fret. We can all appreciate the spirt of Jim's Hair, no matter what time frame it might be in....

I do want to pay homage to Mr. Livesay Sr. He was a definite radio pioneer and deserves respect for following a dream and carrying out his vision. Read more about the early WLBH history here.

I would hate to imagine what JRL would think if he could see the place now....